Pool-ball rack and spotter



(No Model.)

G. HBNKEL. POOL BALL BACK AND SPOTTER.

Patented July 21,1885;

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GEORGE HEN-KEL, OFSPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

POOL-BALL RACK AND SPOTTER.

fiPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 322,602, dated July 21, 1885.

Application filed June 2'7, 1884.

T0 ail whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGEHENKEL, of the city of Springfield, county of Clark, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pool Ball Racks and Spotters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to-pool-ball racks and spotters, the object of the invention being to connect a pool-ball rack and spotter adjustably together and suspend them from the ceiling of the room directly over the pool-table, the said rack and spotter being adjustably connected to the ceiling and being provided with chains or equivalents to raise and lower the same relatively to the table, the said chains being extended over sheaves or pulleys near the ceiling to any desired part of the room, thereby permitting the rack and spotter to be raised or lowered at a distance from the pooltable, the said rack and spotter being so constructed and arranged relatively to one another that when the rack is raised above the table stops upon the frame-work of the triangle project across the ball-holders and prevent the balls rolling out, and when lowered uncover said openings or ball-holders and permit the balls to roll therefrom into the triangle to automatically spot the balls 'upon the pool-table.

By arranging the pool-ball rack directly over the table the players are not obliged to leave the table to place the balls in the rack, as heretofore, which consequently saves much time, and the players can readily see all the balls contained in the said rack and at the same time pay attention to the game, thereby enabling them to play a game much more quickly and with less inconvenience; and by arranging the apparatus to be operated atany desired place in the room to spot the balls, as hereinafter described, it not only does away with an attendant for each table, but permits the operator to keep an accurate score of the games played without leaving his seat.

My invention consists in certain details of construction of said rack and spotter as will be hereinafter set forth.

Figure 1 represents in plan view a pool-ball rack and spotter as constructed in accordance with my invention, the hanger-tubes being shown in section; Fig. 2, a side elevation of the same, parts of the hangers being broken (No model.)

away and parts in section; and Fig. 3, a vertical cross-section on dotted line as m, Fig. 2.

The pool-ball rack, of any suitable material, is herein shown as composed of two sections, A A, said sections having a series of ballholders or compartments, B, herein shown as four to a section, and arranged in pairs. These ball-holders may be of any desired number and arrangement, one above the other, or in any desired manner.

The sections A A will preferably be constructed with partitions O O and end pieces, D

D, and are connected together at their inner ends by means of stay-strips E E, thereby leaving considerable space between the inner ends of the two sections at the center of the rack.

Between the inner ends of the sections A A, (which are inclined toward each other,) and connected with the triangle or spotter F, are vertical guide-rods or standardsG G G G, said guides being connected together at,

their upper ends by supporting-strips H H, which strips act as stops to hold the triangle and standards in place. The standards G G are connected to those G G by cross-braces I,

said braces being so situated upon the standards with relation to the sections A A as to cover the ball holder openings more or less when the rack is raised from the pool-table, to

thereby prevent the balls rolling out.

Attached to the upper part of the sections A A, preferably by screws, are vertical rods J, said rods projecting upward and having a sliding bearing in tubes K, which form guides therefor, said tubes K being connected to the ceiling at their upper ends. A chain or rope,

L, is attached to the upper end of rod J and extended up through a slot, j, in the tube K, near its upper end, over a sheave, M, (see Fig. 2,) to any desired place in the room, such arrangement permitting the rack and spotter to be raised or lowered at a distance from the table.

As herein shown the triangle is located upon its supporting-standards directly below the rack at a point nearly central between the sections A A. This, however, may be dif ferently arranged to secure like results.

The operation of my improved rack and spotter is as follows: The sections A A being normally raised to a point above the table, and the triangle or spotter hanging by its own I weight considerably below the'bottoni of the sections, and its cross-braces I covering the ball-holder openings, when it is desired to spot the balls the rack-sections will be lowered by means of the chain L untilthe triangle contacts with the pool-table, which will raise the said triangle with relation to the sections A A until its cross-braces uncover the ballholders, when the balls will roll into the triangleand spot, after which the rack and triangle will be again elevated.

If desired, the rack might be provided with a counter-weight to balance the weight of the balls when in the rack, which might be arranged in any desired manner. This, however, forms an element in an application for patent filed by me September 27, 1884, for improvements in pool-ball backs and spotters, and therefore will not form part of a claim in this present application.

I claim 1. In a combined pool-ball rack and spotter, the rack-sections A A, inclined as shown, and so arranged as to leave a space between opposite inner ends, the said sections being each provided with a series of ball-holders,

- B, in combination with the. triangle F, adjustably connected to the rack-sections by means of the vertical standards G G G G provided with the cross-braces I, adapted to extend across the ball-holders when the rack is in its normal position, as described, and apparatus, substantially as described, to suspend the rack and triangle adjustably above the pool-table, and mechanism, substantially as described, to raise and lower the same, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a pool-ball rack and spotter, the inclined rack-sections A A, arranged relatively to one another, as shown, and the triangle F, adjustably connected therewith by means of the Vertical standards G G G G, provided with the cross-braces I and supporting-strips H H, which strips extend a short distance over the framework of the rack-sections to support the triangle with relation to the sections A A, in combination with the vertical supporting-rods J, connected to the rack, the tubular guides K therefor, said tubes being connected at their upper ends to the ceiling and having the sheave M, as shown, and the chain L, attached to the rod J and extending over said sheave for the purpose of raising and lowering the rack and spotter relatively.

to the table, substantially as described.

3. In a pool-ball rack and spotter, the combination of two inclined rack-sections, A A, connected together by strips E E, leaving a space between adjacent inner ends, as shown, the triangle F, located below said sections and loosely connected with the rack-sections by the vertical rods G G G G extending up between the inner ends of said sections and strips E E, their horizontal supporting-strips H H, and crossbraces I, the vertical supporting-rod J, the guide-tubes K therefor, and chain L, to raise and lower the rack, the said rack and triangle being constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at Springfield, Ohio, this 13th .day of June, A. D. 1884.

GEORGE HENKEIJ. 

